Number (%) of responses1 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Cause | To a small or very small extent | To some extent | To a large or very large extent |
Over-investigation, because some clinicians tend to rely on investigations more than others and some patients take comfort in being investigated | 44 (12.3) | 136 (38.1) | 177 (49.6) |
Insufficient clinical information and unclear questions in the referral | 57 (16.0) | 149 (41.7) | 151 (42.3) |
Investigation when the results are unlikely to affect patient management, because the anticipated 'positive' finding is usually irrelevant or because a positive finding is so unlikely | 97 (27.7) | 156 (44.6) | 97 (27.7) |
Investigating too often, i.e. before the disease could have progressed or resolved or before the results could influence treatment | 99 (27.7) | 161 (45.1) | 97 (27.2) |
Repeating investigations which have already been done | 138 (38.9) | 184 (51.8) | 33 (9.3) |
Doing the wrong investigation | 195 (54.6) | 150 (42.0) | 12 (3.4) |